Severe Thunderstorm Brings Dangerous Weather

A severe thunderstorm rolled through Southeastern Manitoba Friday evening bringing some dangerous weather.

Environment Canada first issued a tornado warning for the R.M. of Tache at 5:30 p.m. then extended it to the Rural Municipalities of Hanover and Ste. Anne at 6:00 p.m.

Funnel clouds were reported just north of Highway 1 near provincial road 206, and at 6:00 p.m. Enviornment Canada received unconfirmed reports of a tornado touchdown 10 kilometres south of Anola.

Dennis Vassart, Emergency Coordinator for Steinbach and the R.M. of Hanover, says they had storm spotters out as soon as Environment Canada upgraded the severe thunderstorm watch to a warning. He says the radar did not show much of anything all afternoon but as it got closer to 5:00 p.m it popped up in a hurry.

Vassart says the storm mostly stayed north of Steinbach.

“When we were out they upgraded it to a tornado warning which really caught our attention, and we were watching the skies. We didn't have anything here in town, but it was close enough to make us nervous, that is for sure.”

Vassart says it was a combination of things that led to the storm.

“We had very high dew points, that means humidity was up quite high. We had high temperatures and the sun came out which causes great instability in the air. We had a cold front that tracked through and that's what triggered it off.“

Vassart says it is important to pay very close attention to the sky and your surroundings when a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado watch are in effect.

“Make sure you are close to cover and if there is a tornado warning issued, you want to make sure you are heading for cover to your safe place in your home, or the safest place you can get to. It is very dangerous out there when you get tornado or hail or that type of thing, that's life threatening.”